Maryland vs. Mason

Should I go to University of Maryland College Park or George Mason University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Maryland or Mason is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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University of Maryland College Park vs. George Mason University comparison
University of Maryland College Park George Mason University College 3 College 4
University of Maryland College Park George Mason University
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Overview

 Maryland Mason
Location College Park, MD Fairfax, VA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 40,792 39,049
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #95 #228
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website umd.edu gmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Maryland Mason
Tuition (In State) $9,695 $9,795
Tuition (Out of State) $37,931 $35,377
Room & Board $14,576 $13,120
Avg Net Price $16,210 $18,479
Avg Grant Aid $11,232 $10,760
% Receiving Grant Aid 48% 74%

Admission

 Maryland Mason
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 56,761 20,001
Admitted 25,320 18,001
Acceptance Rate 44.6% 90%
Enrolled % 23.1% 23%
Avg High School GPA 3.84 3.68
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 30/34 25/31
SAT Range 1360/1520 1140/1350
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2025

Academics

 Maryland Mason
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

 Maryland Mason
Graduation Rate 82% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $68,300 $61,900
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $19,750
Median Loan Payment $201 $204

Diversity

 Maryland Mason
% Men 51% 48%
% Women 49% 52%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 52% 43%
% Black 13% 11%
% Hispanic 9% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 5%
% International 4% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 5%

Students

 Maryland Mason
% In-State 72% 77%
% Out-of-State 26% 17%

Campus

 Maryland Mason
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Maryland College Park is larger than than Mason based on total student enrollment (40,792 students vs. 39,049 students)

Maryland vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Maryland or Mason?

  • George Mason University is 1% more expensive to attend than Maryland for in-state tuition ($9,795.00 vs. $9,695.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 7.2% higher at Maryland than George Mason University ($37,931.00 vs. $35,377.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Maryland College Park than Mason ($16,210 vs. $18,479)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 11.1% lower than costs at University of Maryland College Park ($13,120 vs. $14,576)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at George Mason University than University of Maryland College Park (74% vs. 48%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Maryland College Park students is 4.4% larger than aid received George Mason University ($11,232 vs. $10,760)

Maryland vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Maryland or Mason? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mason or Maryland .

  • The average SAT score at University of Maryland College Park (1315) is 162 points higher than at Mason (1153)
  • Accepted freshman Maryland students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Mason (3.68)
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (90%) than Maryland (44.6%)

Maryland vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Maryland or Mason? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Mason and Maryland.

  • The graduation rate at Maryland is higher than George Mason University (82% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from University of Maryland College Park earn on average $6,400 more per year than Mason graduates after ten years. ($68,300 vs. $61,900)
  • University of Maryland College Park students graduate with a $250 lower median federal student loan debt than Mason graduates. ($19,500 vs. $19,750)
  • Maryland graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than Mason graduates. ($201 vs. $204)
  • More Maryland graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 73%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/